Pair of Antique 1800s French Face Screens Embossed Cardboard with Love's Poems

This rare and visually striking pair of 19th-century French hand-held face screens—also known as fireplace screens—were traditionally used to shield the face from heat while sitting near the hearth. Today, they serve as elegant decorative pieces, rich in historical and artistic value.

Crafted from embossed cardboard, each screen features on the front a stylized geometrical border and a circular printed illustration of an architectural landscape:

One screen shows a neoclassical building with an archway

The other depicts a structure with palm trees and a colonnade

On the reverse, each screen bears a round medallion with printed French romantic poetry, reflecting the emotional depth and literary spirit of the 19th century.
French Poems & Translations:

On the back of the Archway screen:

"Le Premier Sentiment qui vient nous enflammer
Jusqu’au Tombeau doit nous suivre.
Quand on a commencé d’Aimer,
Ne plus aimer c’est ne plus vivre.
Souvent Amour, fait vieillir la Jeunesse.
Et toujours Amitié rajeunit la Vieillesse."

"The first feeling that comes to set us ablaze
Must follow us to the grave.
Once we have begun to love,
To stop loving is to stop living.
Love often makes youth grow old,
But friendship always makes old age young again."

On the back of the Palm Tree screen:

"Le Sceptre, dans la main d’un roi
Semble dire : Obéissez-moi
Et reconnaissez ma Puissance.
Mais quand, d’un seul regard, on peut dire Aimez-moi,
Il est inutile, je crois,
De commander l’Obéissance."

"The scepter in a king’s hand
Seems to say: Obey me,
And recognize my power.
But when with a single glance one can say: Love me—
Then I believe there’s no need
To command obedience."

Measurements:

Overall Length (each screen): 15 inches

Screen Dimensions: 9 x 7 inches (each)

Condition:

Authentic antique patina throughout

Folding lines, watermarks, surface stains, and general wear consistent with age